US seen blocking G20 progress on trade, climate
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: European officials say that the U.S. is blocking progress at the Group of 20 summits on agreeing how to fix world trading rules, fight climate change and deal with migration.
Diplomats are working to come up with a final statement from the summit in Argentina Friday and Saturday that all leaders agree on.
Because of resistance from President Donald Trump’s administration, an official in the French president’s office said that the statement may have language that sets the U.S. apart. For example, a draft says 19 of the participants agree on the importance of upholding the Paris climate accord, but the U.S. doesn’t.
The officials said the U.S. is also blocking any mention of migration or of reforming the World Trade Organization. The officials were not authorized to be publicly named discussing the closed-door talks.
European participants are trying to put up a united front at the G-20 and are concerned that Trump is using it to advance his own goals via bilateral meetings.
